The official interview with Hideo Ishikawa, who plays Jushiro Ukitake in the final season of the BLEACH anime, Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3: The Conflict, has been published.

Regarding the reveal of Ukitake’s secret in the "Conflict" arc, was there anything in particular you focused on when performing?

Ishikawa: I focused on portraying Ukitake’s strong sense of “responsibility” to do all he could for the Soul Society, especially when it’s in a state of crisis. He’s someone who’s lived his whole life with a frail body, so he has a spirit of trying to stay cheerful and optimistic when interacting with others.

But in “Conflict,” I felt it was his duty as a Gotei 13 Captain that motivated him, so I held back his usual bright and genial nature. For me, Ukitake’s sense of “responsibility” in this arc is closely tied to how he felt at the time of Kaien Shiba’s death.

Which was harder to play—Ukitake’s bright, cheerful side or his serious, responsible side?

Ishikawa: I wouldn’t say one was more difficult than the other. I love playing both, and they’re both enjoyable for me. However, since Ukitake couldn’t be cheerful in Thousand-Year Blood War, I did miss that aspect a bit.

In the original BLEACH anime, Ukitake appeared quite often in the anime-only episodes, and he was typically portrayed in a more cheerful and good-natured way. The way I see him, he has a kind of bright, easygoing, and lively personality, like a friendly P.E. teacher. I’d love to bring back that version of Ukitake if there’s ever an opportunity.

How did you first encounter the character Jushiro Ukitake?

Ishikawa: My first time playing Ukitake was at the “Jump Festa Anime Tour” event. This was before the anime aired, and a special OVA episode was being shown, which included Ukitake. Back then, I was reading BLEACH in the collected volumes, but Ukitake hadn’t appeared in them yet, so I didn’t know who he was.

I remember asking Masakazu Morita, who plays Ichigo, while pointing at the name “Ukitake” in the script, “So, who’s this Ukitake guy?” Morita said, “I think he’s an original character made for the anime [laughs].” I took him at his word, so I went to the recording studio thinking Ukitake was an original character, only to meet Kubo-sensei himself there. As I talked with him, I quickly found out Ukitake was no anime-original character, but a Captain in the Gotei 13 [laughs]. It’s a memory that’s still fresh in my mind [laughs].

Was there a line in BLEACH that really resonated with you?

Ishikawa: Should I really say this? [laughs] Ukitake’s the only current Gotei 13 Captain who’s never done a Bankai! So, I always wanted to say “Bankai” just once [laughs]. Watching and hearing other characters call out “Bankai!” during recording, especially how many times Morita got to say it—oh, I was envious [laughs].

If I were to choose a line that stayed with me, it would have to be the one Ukitake says to Rukia when Kaien Shiba dies: “There are two kinds of battles. As long as we place ourselves on the battlefield, we must always distinguish between the two. There are battles to protect life, and battles to...protect honor...” (Volume 16, Chapter 135). This line, in my view, really embodies Jushiro Ukitake as a character and what he holds most dear. Since I was able to deliver it to the one person he most wanted to hear it, I was especially thrilled to have this line come up again in episode 29 of The Conflict.

Which character in BLEACH is your favorite?

Ishikawa: As much as I’d like to say Ukitake, my favorite has to be “Yama-jii,” the great Captain-Commander Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. The way he fights, sacrificing himself to protect everyone, is just so impressive. Ukitake and Shunsui Kyoraku are often portrayed as a pair, but Yama-jii is the figure they both look up to and follow. He’s like a mentor to them, with his unshakable convictions. I think Ukitake has a great deal of respect for him.

If you had to sum up Jushiro Ukitake’s character in one word, what would it be?

Ishikawa: It’s hard to capture him in just one word, but looking back, I think “duality” fits well. This applies to his zanpakuto, “Sogyo no Kotowari,” and also to his relationship with Shunsui.

As Captains, each has their own strength, but when they combine forces, they can create even more powerful results. I sometimes imagine that if Ukitake hadn’t been frail, he and Shunsui might have shared the Captain-Commander role after Yama-jii’s passing. Their bond feels like a destined partnership. Personally, I love the original manga artwork where Sogyo no Kotowari and Shunsui’s “Katen Kyokotsu” are depicted side by side as twin swords—it’s so cool!

Finally, do you have a message for fans visiting the official BLEACH anime site?

Ishikawa: After nearly 20 years, this series I’ve been fortunate to voice-act in has returned as Thousand-Year Blood War, a decade after the original series ended. I believe it’s thanks to fans’ desire to “see the anime reach its conclusion” and their wish to “watch it all the way to the end” that BLEACH is finally completing its story in anime form. Fans who have read the original BLEACH know that turbulent times lie ahead, so I hope you’ll enjoy every moment of Thousand-Year Blood War as we reach the end. And please, don’t forget about Ukitake. He may just return someday...or so I like to think [laughs].

Anime BLEACH Official Web SIte

Source : ORICON NEWS